lower limb

lower limb — noun

1. a person's leg together with the foot and ankle — the standard medical term for

1.名詞B2
釋義

a person's leg together with the foot and ankle — the standard medical term for the entire leg below the hip joint, used in clinical descriptions and anatomy

例句

The doctor examined Minh's lower limb after he twisted his knee during a match.

often used with possessive: sb's lower limb

Poor blood flow in the lower limb can cause swelling in the foot and ankle.

medical context: blood flow / swelling

同義詞
  • leg

    everyday word for the limb from hip to foot; less formal than 'lower limb'

  • extremity

    broader medical term that includes both arms and legs (upper / lower extremity)

  • hind limb

    used for animals, especially quadrupeds; not typically used for humans

反義詞
  • upper limb

    the arm, forearm, and hand; the counterpart of the lower limb in the human body

文法句型

sb's + lower limb

the + patient's + lower limb

用法筆記

Frequently used in medical charts, anatomy textbooks, and clinical descriptions. In everyday conversation, speakers usually say 'leg' instead. Subject is often a patient or body part; the possessive determiner (his, her, the patient's) is common.

常見錯誤

❌I hurt my lower limb while playing football' (too formal for casual speech)
✅I hurt my leg while playing football.
💡Use 'leg' in daily conversation; reserve 'lower limb' for medical or formal writing.
❌The lower limb of the sofa broke.
✅The leg of the sofa broke.
💡'Lower limb' is not used for furniture legs or inanimate supports.

2. a branch on a tree that grows closer to the ground than the other branches, espe

2.名詞C1
釋義

a branch on a tree that grows closer to the ground than the other branches, especially the lowest ones that are easiest to reach

例句

The gardener trimmed the lower limb before it snapped in a storm.

gardening context: trimming dead branches

Feng climbed onto a thick lower limb and sat there reading for nearly an hour.

同義詞
  • low branch

    everyday term; far more common in casual English than 'lower limb'

  • lowest branch

    emphasises the branch closest to the ground

  • bough

    literary; refers to any large main branch of a tree, not specifically a low one

反義詞

文法句型

the + lower limb + of + a tree

用法筆記

Primarily used in gardening, arboriculture, and nature writing to describe branches that are within arm's reach from the ground. In everyday speech, 'low branch' or 'lowest branch' is far more common. Distinguish from sense 1 (anatomy) by context — if the subject is a tree, use this sense.

常見錯誤

❌The bird sat on a lower limb of the building.
✅The bird sat on a lower limb of the tree.
💡'Lower limb' for branches only applies to trees and woody plants, not buildings or other structures.
❌The dog injured its lower limb jumping over the fence.' (anatomy sense needed here)
✅The dog injured its leg jumping over the fence.
💡For animal anatomy, use 'leg' or 'hind limb', not this sense.